Brandon Prust has provided a spark to the Montreal Canadiens, who now must look elsewhere for inspiration. Prust will miss time because of a shoulder injury, according to Montreal Gazette Habs writer Dave Stubbs.

A feisty winger, Prust was injured in the third period of Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Florida Panthers, and although the team gave no timetable it appears Prust will miss at least a week.

Initial reports suggested Prust has a slight shoulder separation. Video of the injury showed it was not the garden-variety boo-boo.

Prust injured his left shoulder against the Lightning on a typical hustle play. He rammed into the boards while chasing the puck on an icing call.

Prust provides plenty to the Habs in addition to having four goals and five assists. He is second in hits with 62 (Alexei Emelin has 88). And he will add fire by fighting. Even the sight of a heavyweight brawler like the Boston Bruins' Milan Lucic won't make Prust faint of heart.

Ain't that tough enough? Ain't that tough enough? Yeah, but apparently his injury relates to the pounding he took in his Lucic scrap.

Prust's touch on offense, which is a bit of a surprise, showed Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes with a beauty of a backhand pass to set up a goal by defenseman Josh Gorges. The tape-to-tape assists was, Prust told the Canadiens website: "Backhand sauce — my specialty."

"I just saw Gorges streaking to the net and I knew he had his guy beat, so I threw it towards him and he was able to bury it," he said.

In his first season with the Habs after two-plus seasons with the New York Rangers, Prust says he just wants to fit.

"I'm just trying to keep doing the little things," Prust said after his three-point night against the Hurricanes. "I definitely played one of my better games tonight where the puck was just kind of going in. Other times you can play the best game of your life but get nothing. Tonight, we got some good bounces and the guys were burying their opportunities."

Prust is providing toughness to a team that needs it, with 81 penalty minutes. He also is plus-13 and has blocked 16 shots.